Awning system with snap-on functional components

Abstract

An improved staple-in fabric awning system is provided. The awing has a frame made of ribs with outwardly exposed longitudinally extending staple slots. A fabric canopy covers the frame and is tucked into and secured within the staple slots. A vinyl strip is configured to snap into the staple slots of the awning atop the canopy to span and hide the tucked in portions and cover the staples therein. The vinyl strip is covered at least on its exposed top portion with fabric that may visually blend into the fabric of the canopy or that may visually contrast with the fabric of the canopy. The system includes snap-in and snap-on plastic perimeter flanges and out rod flanges that are mounted on the perimeter ribs and out rods that form a grid on the underside of the awning. The plastic flanges form inwardly projecting lips around the openings of the underside grids that support egg crate ceiling panels to form an aesthetically pleasing underside ceiling of the awning.

1. A fabric covered awning comprising:
 a frame formed of interconnected ribs, at least some of said ribs having an exposed longitudinally extending staple slot; 
 a fabric canopy covering said frame, said fabric canopy being tucked into and secured within said longitudinally extending staple slots; and 
 cover strips extending along said staple slots covering the tucked in portions of said fabric canopy, each of said cover strips comprising a body and an outer fabric cover secured to said body. 
 
   
   
     2. The fabric covered awning as claimed in  claim 1  and wherein each said body is generally T-shaped and comprises a tang secured within a staple slot and a top portion that spans and covers the staple slot, said fabric cover overlying at least said top portion of said body. 
   
   
     3. The fabric covered awning as claimed in  claim 2  and wherein the tang is a barbed tang. 
   
   
     4. The fabric covered awning as claimed in  claim 2  and wherein each body is formed of a vinyl material. 
   
   
     5. The fabric covered awning as claimed in  claim 2  and wherein said fabric cover is secured to said top portion of said body with adhesive. 
   
   
     6. The fabric covered awning as claimed in  claim 2  and wherein said fabric cover is secured to said top portion of said body by a sonic weld. 
   
   
     7. The fabric covered awning as claimed in  claim 2  and wherein said fabric cover is secured to said top portion of said body with stitching. 
   
   
     8. The fabric covered awning as claimed in  claim 7  and wherein said stitching extends through said top portion and said fabric cover. 
   
   
     9. The fabric covered awning as claimed in  claim 8  and wherein said stitching comprises two rows of spaced apart stitches. 
   
   
     10. The fabric covered awning as claimed in  claim 7  and wherein said fabric cover overlies and wraps around beneath said top portion of said body, said stitching extending through said fabric cover on both sides of said top portion. 
   
   
     11. The fabric covered awning as claimed in  claim 2  and wherein said fabric cover is made of a material that visually blends with the material of said fabric canopy. 
   
   
     12. The fabric covered awning as claimed in  claim 2  and wherein said fabric cover is made of a material that visually contrasts with said fabric canopy.